A Week Full of Motown, Rock N' Roll Royalty, Fresh Paint and the Ultimate Burgers

Another crazy week in “O-World”! Entertainment in St. Charles is really kicking into high gear as we prepare for a slew of holiday shows. Our renovations continue with more upgrades to our lighting system, and the new paint on the floors is just about dry.

You will have to excuse me, I am just getting home after judging ECC”s Prime Burger competition at the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin. Six finalists prepared their take on an “Ultimate Burger.” The winner wasn’t actually a burger at all. It was a “Chocolate Burger” comprised of a double fudge brownie, strawberry, kiwi topped with a fresh coconut sauce … amazing! My buddy Kyle Witt from OnPath Financial came by to support me and it was a great time.

This past week we did shows with Italian superstar Zucchero in Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland. This guy will sell 30,000 tickets in Europe, discovered Andrea Bocelli and is Eric Clapton’s favorite blues/rock performer. And we did his US/Midwest tour. We started in Detroit at a fabulous venue called Andiamo’s, Michigan’s #1 live music venue.Then to the Park West in Chicago.

Next, a career moment for me … a show at the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland! A very rare opportunity for only a handful of outside producers. Il Volo, those three 17-year old tenors from Italy who appeared on the American Idol finale, did shows for us at the Chicago Theatre and at the Milwaukee Theatre.  Then it was back to Detroit where The Godfathers of Comedy, our show on Showtime, appeared live at the Palace where the Detroit Pistons play. 

While in Detroit, I took a a couple of hours and visited the Motown Museum.  Motown and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame really should be stops on your tour of life. Really, to be in the same studio as the Primes (The Temptations) and the Primettes (The Supremes), The Jackson 5 and so many other legends was an amazing experience! R N' R Hall is also a must see if you are truly a music fan. I found myself lost in the memorabilia, the posters, the videos. Neil was amazing. It’s really hard to believe just how many songs in rock history he is responsible for. But one song really got to me. It’s called “Turning Back The Hands Of Time.” It’s set to the music of a famous Puccini opera, Nessun Dorma:

"To touch the faces of loved ones … What a miracle it would be."

It’s also about how much he misses his father … we were all in tears.

Then on a plane to get back to the for Neil Sedaka. Crazee!

This Saturday night … FOGHAT at The Arcada! Man, am I looking forward to this show. I have worked with founder Roger Earl and the boys on a few occasions. I am telling you this show is ONLY for those who know how to ROCK! Voyage opens for them with there awesome tribute to Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi and a bunch of others. … what a week!